Context

Like elsewhere, the media landscape in Serbia has been shaped by the country’s political, socio-economic, cultural and historical context. A protracted political and economic transition has brought many challenges to society, varying from limited successes in democratization efforts to painful structural changes in the economic system, all of which were introduced after a long period of authoritarian rule.

An underdeveloped market and the low purchasing power of citizens increases media dependence on the state budget and, consequently, exposes it to political influence. The legal framework, although in line with European standards, is applied inconsistently across all socio-economic sectors, including the media.

Media consumption habits, with TV still remaining to be the dominant media sector, are constantly being reshaped by increased usage of Internet and social media, especially among the younger population.